Yarn-feeding means for circular-knitting machines



Nov. 18, 1930. T. s. GRIEVE 1,732,299

YARN FEEDING MEANS FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES I Filed March 15, 1929 3 Sheets-Shept l T. S. -GR|EVE Nov. 18, 1930..-

YARN FEEDING MEANS FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 15, 1929 f7 4. Irwntm 7 50mm Ji /[6 GIN/606' 214, 671/? u f 37}J d a (a? J Nov. 18, 1930. T. s. GRIEVE YARN FEEDING MEANS FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES Filed March 15, 1929 3 She ets-Sheet 3 flu/372(0)? The/mas Patented Nv.'18, 1 930 THOMAS, seo vr ,G IE E, or nn ronsrnn, ENGLA D, Assrenon'ro r. GRIEVE a co.

Q LI-Miran, or LEICESTER. ENGLAnD' mmmenmqmws roe CIRdUIiAifi KNIT-TiNG' MACHINES Application filed. March 15, ierea serial No.;347;398; and. in Great Britain Marcus}, 1923. I

This invention relates to yarn feeding meansfor clrcula-r knittingmachines and has forits object the prov sion of an, un-

provedfeedeiymore particularly,thoughnot I U5 necessarily exclusively, for, use inplating and-reverse plat-1ng-,1and also Improved means for; controlhng the yarnsin' reverse plating.

The invention. is principally intended for application to circular machines of-the don 1Q blecylindertype, hutit isnot limited in this respect as-it may be. applied to, other circular machines.

Ina: circular machine; einployingfa feed plate; furnished with an openino: extending substantially v .circumferentially for the purpose of allowing theyarn,.or oneofthe yarns, which-passes through it tochange itsposition, such as during reciprocating action or in reverse: plating,the., opening nequiresflto he of such lengththat'it cuts across thed'own- :wardpath of the needles, thejlatches of which are, close totheinside of the feed. plate, and there isthus fa possibility of collision between the latches and the lower edge of the open.-

I ing. I

T he present invention includesasfa feature a feeder wherein the opening for the yarn or: yarns is soformed, that collision of the need-lerlatches therewitlnis, prevented. i

- Accordingto this invention there is provideda feeder having ayarn feeding opening the lower. portion atleastof which is formed in'a part. of. the feeder 'set back from the inner face so as to bev Well away from the Vertical plane in which the needle "latches descend. The feeder may consist of a single feed. plate with the said opening formed. in

an integral part'set backas aforesaid, but

said feeder preferably consists. of separate 40 parts respectively formed with apertures and adapted for use in juXta-position w th the inner face of one partset back from, i. e. located further away from the needles than,

the innerface of theother part, so that the c 41:; two apertures, togetherforni a. yarn feeding opening theilower portionof which is out,

of the plane of the latches of the descending needles. v I v t g For producing reverse. plating, it is preferred to use the improvedfeeder in conjunction With novahle.yarn-fingers, that is,,a yarn finger. to control eachyarn. In such arrangement, for supplying two yarns for example, the movable fingers are controlled so thatthey'are alternately advanced and .retracted towards [and from-the opening,- i.,e. one is. advanced. whenrthe other is'retracted. Thefeed location of the yarn from the advanced. finger, isfdetermined by said finger, while. the feed location. of the yarn fromthe retractedffingeris deterni-inedby oneend of the opening. On the fingers changing their positions the feed. locations. of the yarns are changed, thereby producing reverse plating.

The, invention also includesas a feature 05 the .provision for reverse plating of pivoted fingers operated forv changingthe positions of the. yarns by a. common membenfor eX- arnpl'e a lever, preferably" actuated bya cam and controlledby pattern mechanism aswill be:h ere1nafter explained. Said fingers are preferably mounted on the top cam box-of the machine, and used. in association with the feeder formingpart oftlns IIIVGHlZ'lOIlL In, further c'lesoriloing the invention refiigure, a front elevation of thetwo partsseparate d.

F1gure3 is. a frontelevation of thetwo partsinco-relation ina circularknitting machine.

s5 Figures 4 and 5 are respectively side and frontelevations of a reverse plating arrangeinent employing the mproved feeder and pivoted yarn fingers in combination in a circu-lar knititng machineof the superposed cylnder yp I lteferringto, Figures 1, 2 and 3 the feeder illustrated coinprises'two parts 1 and 2. The part 1; is formed with a notch 3 in the lower edge thereof, and thepart 2 hasat the upper edge a' notch a. Then the two parts are 09- 7 related orcombined in the machine, as represented: in Figures 1 and 3, the inner face 5. of the part 2gislocated further away from the needles (one of which is shown at 6 in Figi ister with each other.

ure 1) than the inner face 7 of the part 1, and there is formed an opening or mouthpiece 8 '(Figure 3) the lower portion of which, i. e. that constituted by a notch 4 in the part 2, is out of the plane of the latches of the descendin g needles, so that the risk of collision of the needle latches with this portion of the feeder is eliminated. As illustrated in Figure 3, the two parts 1 and 2 are fixed in the machine so that the said notches aresubstantiallyin regpart .1 so that the upper edge of the former overlaps the lower edge of the latter. In this way the lower portions 9 and 10 of the part 1 serve as latch guards over the extremities of If. desired or necessary the parts may befixed sothatthe notch 4- is immediately below the notch 3 instead of the two notches being substantially in register as aforesaid. As will be observedthe notch 4 longer, considered circumferentially, than the notch '3', the purpose of this being, of course, to enable'the yarn which is supplied to the needles in reciprocating knitting, to traverse the notch 4 from one end to the other. Conven ently 111 a circular knlttingmachine of the superposed cylinder type, the two parts of the feeder are respectively fixed to a plate 11 'or like carrier, the part 1 being attached on the inside of the plate by screws 12, and the part 2 on the outside of the plate'by screws 18. The plate 11 is in turn attached to the top can box 1 1 of the machine by screws 15.

Preferably, for reverse plating the feeder is constructed in the manner already described with reference toFigures l to 3, that is, one

' portion of the opening is formed in a part 1 and the other in a part 2, the upper portlon 3 being comparatively short, and the lower portion 4 being longer to enable the yarn which passes therethrough to change its position as aforesaid during reciprocating action of the machine. I

This feeder is used in combination with V yarnfingers of pivoted form each constructed and mounted to turn on a horizontal axis on the top cam boX,'so that the delivery end 7 moves towards and from the feeder and enters the opening or mouthpiece8, the path of.

movement being a substantially horizontal arc. The fingers are operated by suitable means in a controlled manner by a cam or equivalent and intermediate connections.

In the combination illustrated in-Figures 4t and 5, which also illustrate yarn fingers arranged and operated 111a manner forming part of the invention, there are two yarn fingers 16 and 17 respectively fulcrumed at 18 and 19 in a bracket 20 attached to the top cam box 14:. The finger 16 has a pin 21 therein which enters a'slot 22 in the finger 17-, said pin 7 and slot being above the fulcrum 18. An-

other pin 23 is also fixed in the finger 16, so

as to be located below the fulcrum 18, and this pin enters a slot 2st in one arm of an actuating bell crank lever 25 fulcrumed at 26 in a bracket 27 attachedto the cam box let; At the. lower extremities the fingers are furnished with hollow or tubular yarn guides 28 and 29, arranged so as to converge towards the opening or mouthpiece 8 constituted by the notches 3 and 4. (Figure 2) in the feeder parts 1 and 2 as hereinbefore set forth. Yarnsa and b are represented aspassing through the respecv That is to say, the part 2 fitted in front of and slightly over the tive guides. The arrangement is such that the bell cranlt'lever 2 5 is rocked the two fingers 16, 17 are moved in opposite directions simultaneously. hen however, the bell crank lever is held stationary at either c tremity of its movement, one of these fingers is held in an advanced position so that its guide-enters the opening 8 whilethe other is retracted so that its guide is withdrawn from the said opening. The yarn controlled by the advanced finger passes through the opening 8 andbehind the portion 10 of the part 1 to theneed-les, while the yarn from the retracted finger passes, in circular knitting, through the right hand entremityjof the notch L in thepa-rt 2, and between the latter and the said portion 10 to the needles. During recipro- V catlng knitting the said'yarn passes from each through the opening 8. The part 2 of the feederhas a groove or channel 30 leading to the notch 4 to accommodate the yarn guides 28 and 29. v

The actuating lever e. g. the lever 25, may be-actuated for the purpose'above mentioned inanysuitablemanner in timed relation with the revolutions of the machine to change the feeding positionsof the yarns at the times required, through the medium of a link 31.

What I aim then is l. in a c 'rnlar lmitting nuichine, coaxial needle cylinders and cam boxes, a series of needles and means for feeding yarns in plating relation, comprising a pair of fiiigers pivoted on the rib cam box, the pivot for each finger being disposed so that upon operation of the fingers to change the posit-ions of the yarns tne ends which deliver the yarns move substantialy radially towards and away from the needles, the path of movement being a substantially horizontal arc.

'2. In a circular knitting machine, co-axial aieedle cylinders and rain boxes, a series of needles, and means for feeding yarns in plating relation, comprising two pivoted fingers extending from separate axes on the rib cam box, said axes being disposed so that upon o'peration'ofthe fingers to change the positionsof the yarnsthe ends which deliver the 'arns move substantiall radiall' towards and away fro-m the needles, the path of move ment being a substantially horizontal arc.

3. In a circular knitting machine, superposed co-axial needle cylinders and cam boxes, a series of needles, and means for feeding yarns in plating relation, comprising two pivoted lingers depending from separate horizontal axes on the top cambox'so that upon operation ofthe fingers "to change the positions of the yarns theendswvhich deliver the'yarns move substantially radially ders and cam boxes, a series of needles, means purpose set forth.

forfeeding yarns in plati g relationjcomprising two pivoted lingers dependingfrom separate horizontal axes on the top cam box, the axes being disposed one above the other so that upon operation of saidfingers to change the positions of the yarns, the ends which deliver the yarns move respectively in opposite directions in a path which is substantially radial withrespectto the needles. and also a substantially horizontal arc, and i a lever common to both of said fingers for actuating the same. V

5. In a circular knitting machine in co1nbinatioinsuperposed co-axial needle c'ylin dcrs and cam boxes, a series of needles, means for feeding yarns in plating relation coinprising two pivoted fingers depending from separate horizontal axes disposed one above another on the top cam box, so that the lower ends of the, fingers can move substantially radially towards and from the needles, the path of movement being a substantially horizontal are, said fingers being also connected between the axes by a pin and slot connection,

and a pivoted lever engaging one of said [ingers below the aforesaid axes for actuating the fingers to change the positions of the yarns.

6. In a circular lmitting machine in com bination, axially opposed needle cylinders and cam boxes, a series of latch needles,- means for feeding yarns in plating relation comprising a pair of fingers pivoted on the rib cam box, the pivots for the fingers being disposed so that upon operation of the fingers to change the positions of the yarns the ends which deliver the yarns move substantially radially with respect to the needles, the path of movement being a substantially horizontal are, and a yarn feeder comprising separate parts respectively formed. with notches and juxtaposed with the inner face of one set back from the inner face of the other so that the two notches together form an aperture the lower portion of which is out of the plane in which the needle latches travel, for the p 7. In acircularknitting machine, co-axial needle cyhnders and cam boxes, a serles of v needles, means for feeding yarns in plating relation, comprising two pivoted fingersex tending from separate axeson the rib'cam box,lsaid axes being disposed so that upon operation of the fingers to change the positions of'theyarns the ends which deliver the yarns move substantially radially with respect to theneedleathe path of movement beinga substantiallyhorizontal arc, and a yarn feeder comprising separate parts respectively formed with notches and juxtaposed with the 'innerjfa'ce of one set back from the inner face of the otherso that the two notches together form' an aperture the lower portion of which is out of the plane inwhich the needle latches travel, for the purpose set forth. J i V I 38. In circular knitting machine, superposed co-axial needle cylinders and cam boxes,fa'series of. needles, means for feeding yarnsin plating relation, comprising two pivoted fingers depending from separate horizontal axes on the cam box so that upon operation of the fingers to changethe positions of the yarnsthe ends which deliver the yarns, move substantially radially with res'pectto the needles, the path of movement being a substantially horizontal are, and a yarn feeder comprising separate parts respectively formed with notches and juxtaposed ,with theinner face of one set back from the inner face of the-other so that the two notches together form an aperture the lower portionof which is out of the plane in whichlthe needle latches travel as the needles descend, for the purpose set forth.

9. In a circular knitting machine in combination, superposed co-axial needle cylinders and" cam boxes, a series of needles, means ,for

feeding yarns in plating relation comprising two pivoted fingers depending from separate horizontal axes disposed one above another on the top cam box, so that upon operation of said fingers to change the positions of the yarns, the ends which deliver the yarns move respectively in opposite directions substantially radially with respect to the needles, the path ofmovement being a substantiallyfhorizontal are, a lever common to both of said fingers for actuating the same, and a yarn feeder comprising separate parts respectively formed with notches and juxtaposed with the inner face of one set back from the inner face of the other so that the two notches together form an aperture the lower portion of a which is out of the plane in which the needle lli) horizontal axes disposed one above another on the top eain boX'so that the lower ends of the fingers can move substantially radially towards and from the needles, the pathof 5 inoyement being a substantially horizontal are, said fingers being also connected between the axes by a pin and slot connection, a pivoted lever engaging one of said fingers below the aforesaid axes for actuating the fingers to [0 change the positions of the yarns, and a yarn feeder comprising separate parts respectively formed with notehesand juxtaposed with the inner face of one. set hacltfrom the inner face of the other so that the two notches together form an aperture the lower portion of which is out of the plane in which the needle latches travel as the needles descend, for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I my signature.

V V V THoMAssooTT GRIEVE. 

